Toll collection at 3 Staten Island-N.J. bridges to go all-electronic

Advance file photoIf the Port Authority has its way, toll collection at the Outerbridge Crossing will be more high tech and less of a hassle.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- All-electronic toll collection equipment that would eliminate the need for toll booths will be installed at the Port Authority's six bridges including the Bayonne and Goethals Bridges and the Outerbridge Crossing over the next few years, it was announced today.

But while the purchase of the technology for this next generation of toll collection was approved by the authority's board, there has not yet been any decision made when to switch over from the current system that collects both cash and E-ZPass.

The $175 million system will replace the current 12-year-old system, which is among the oldest such toll collection systems in the northeast.

The current setup is nearing the end of its useful life, Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward said during today's board meeting, and "glitches" in the system, like missed tag readings, have led to "leakage" in the authority's revenue collection.

The amount of lost revenue due to technical problems was not immediately known today, but an authority spokesman said "It is not a significant amount of our overall toll revenue."

The new system will be installed beginning in late 2012 through the end of 2014. During installation, the toll plazas will continue to operate as they do today, with E-ZPass and cash accepted, and motorists shouldn't notice a difference.

When the decision is made in the future to change over to the new upgraded system, the authority says drivers will benefit from non-stop toll collection, which will keep traffic flowing, reduce emissions and improve air quality. Motorists will also experience fewer lane closures due to equipment failures, and billing problems due to misread tags will be reduced, the authority said.